Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system (neurological) that causes muscle weakness and affects the patient's physical abilities
This disease is often called Lou Gehrig's disease Lou Gehrig was a baseball player who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS is a motor neuron disease that causes progressive degeneration and death of nerve cells In the United States, this disease is often called motor neuron disease
In most cases, doctors cannot explain the cause of the disease In some cases, the disease is inherited
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often begins with slight muscle cramps or weakness in the arms and legs, as well as difficulty pronouncing words. Subsequently, the disease causes the patient to lose control of the muscles that allow the person to move, speak, eat, and breathe. This form of motor neuron disease is incurable and leads to death
In ALS, the nerve cells that control normal muscle movement die, so your muscles gradually weaken and disappear. Other cases have different causes
Researchers are trying to find out possible causes of ALS, for example:
- Genetic mutation Various genetic mutations can cause hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is very similar to the non-inherited form of the disease.
- Chemical imbalance Patients with this disease have higher-than-normal amounts of glutamate, a chemical that carries information in the brain—in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds nerve cells. Excess glutamate is toxic to some nerve cells
- Disorganized immune response Sometimes a person's immune system begins to attack the normal cells of the body, resulting in the death of nerve cells
- Abnormal activity of proteins Abnormal proteins can gradually accumulate in nerve cells and cause them to die.
Early symptoms of ALS
- Difficulty walking and other daily activities
- Weakness in the legs, feet, and ankles
- Arm weakness or stiffness
- Slurred speech or difficulty swallowing
- Muscle cramps As the disease progresses, the muscles gradually weaken This weakness makes it difficult to chew, swallow, speak and breathe
- However, Al does not affect bladder and digestive system control. The disease also does not affect your senses and your ability to think It is possible for the patient to remain actively involved in life with his family and friends
